most devoted
daughter--who cometh to me for teaching in this matter of the interdict.
She asketh of me all its meaning--what it shall bring to Venice?"

"Thou tell her, then, it shall bring naught. For if it be pronounced it
will be unjustly, and without due cause."

"Nay, Paolo, my brother; it is written in the nineteenth maxim of the
'Dictatus Papae' 'That none may judge the Pope.'"

"My brother, who gave thee thy conscience and thine intellect?" Fra
Paolo questioned sternly. "And hath He who gave them thee so taught thee
to yield them that it should be as if thou had'st not these gifts which,
verily, distinguish man from the animals--to whom instinct sufficeth?
Yet, if thou would'st have answer from one of our own casuists in whom
thou dost place thy trust, the Cardinal Bellarmino, in his second book
on the Roman Pontiffs, will teach thee that without prejudice to this
maxim of Gregory thou mayest refuse obedience to a command extending
beyond the jurisdiction of him who commands; as Gaetano in his first
treatise on the 'Power of the Pope,' will also tell thee. For the peace
of thine own mind, my brother, I would I might make thee understand!"

"Nay," answered Fra Francesco, not less earnestly. "Peace for him who
hath faith cometh not with one intellectual solution, nor another; but
with calm purpose to do the right, however it may be revealed."

"Which, as thou knowest, Francesco, Venice seeketh--and naught else. It
is a matter of law in which thou hast made no studies, and therefore
hard for thee. Now must I to the Council Chamber, but later I would
willingly show thee all the argument. But of this be sure. The Republic
will not offend against the liberty of the Holy Church; but she will
protect her own."

"Fearest thou not, dear friend," Fra Francesco questioned, greatly
troubled, "that thou mayest lead Venice o'erlightly to esteem this vow
of obedience which every loyal son of the Church oweth to the Holy
Father? My heart is sore for thee. I see not the matter as thou would'st
have me."

"Nay," said Fra Paolo quietly, "to each one his burden! If thy
conscience bears not out my teaching, thou art free from it. I interpret
the law by the grace which God hath given me; I, also, being free from
sin therein, if my understanding be not equal to the tasks wherein I
seem to feel God's guidance."

"Yet tell me, I pray thee, Paolo mio, and be not displeased by mine
insistence,--perchance it may help me to compreh